Truth. By: C.C.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." (Flannery O'Connor)

   Truth is truth. The idea of what is true may vary from one individual to another, but opinion and personal  ideals do not alter truth or determine it. Truth remains true regardless of who opposes it.

  "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubtantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe it the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

     This is truth; and this is what I believe to be true. It was not always easy to "stomach it" but, it did not cease to be true because of my difficulty to accept it. Years of unrest, of ignorance, and of wresting with the truth led me further from a sense of peace and security in anything. It led me to substitute truth for multiple lies and falsities;attempting to stand on firm ground when nothing but The Fullness of Truth could sustain the weight of my desire(s). There is peace in truth. There is joy; everlasting joy in the presence of truth. And yes, it is not always easy to stomach because the Truth demands a change. It demands us to step outside of our selfish inclinations and outward in self-giving love. This truth demands obedience and sacrifice to those called to live in light of it. "I believe" is not something uttered by lips alone but one I commit myself to in deed as much as I am able to everyday.
  The truth does not change when I falter or stumble.Through my weakness the strength of Truth is affirmed. The truth does not bend to accommodate my emotions, and it is not to be held against others in judgement.When I say I believe in this truth then I commit myself to follow wherever I am led. To stand up when others may oppose it and to follow persistently even when ridiculed. The truth remains true even when it is deemed "unfashionable" or "outdated". "The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." We must change our appetites and seek Him who satisfies our greatest hunger and fulfills our deepest need. (CC ) 

Before we give our Catholic schools a failing grade...: C.C.

                                       

The current state of Catholic education has recently sparked my attention after reading an article from The Catholic Register entitled Catholic schools failing at making disciples. Catholic education is often at the forefront of much criticism, and it seems that the initial intention and agenda for Catholic education in Ontario has faded and fallen short of accomplishing what it had initially set out to do. There is no simple explanation or solution for the point that we have reached, however by taking a look back (and for many a first look) at what Catholic education in Ontario was aimed at accomplishing we can potentially begin to slowly mend the current reality.  
  In 1989, the Catholic Bishops of Ontario gathered and created a wonderful document entitled This Moment of Promise, that explored the role, duties, obligations, beauty, and fundamentals of Catholic education in Ontario. It is definitely worth reading and reflecting upon.        
   Before we give our Catholic schools a failing grade for not making disciples, we must also look into the reality of the way in which we as the faithful carry out our daily mission in deed and word. In seeking to create these young disciples we must ask ourselves if we are bold enough to be apostles. This lack of discipleship is not a recent issue, but it is one that has occurred over time. Idealistically the role of the Catholic educator should be one that reflects this below.....
"Prime responsibility for creating this unique Christian school climate rests with the teachers, as individuals and as a community. The religious dimension of the school climate is expressed through the celebration of Christian values in Word and Sacrament, in individual behavior, in friendly and harmonious interpersonal relationships, and in a ready availability. Through this daily witness,, the students will come to appreciate the uniqueness of the environment to which their youth has been entrusted. If it is not present, then there is little left which can make the school Catholic.
(The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School, S.C. for Catholic Education, 1988, para. 26).
"If it is not present, then there is little left which can make the school Catholic"! If our teachers are called to "witness to the hope that is within them", then our work as missionaries is not limited to ensuring that our students encounter Jesus Christ, but also that these educators first become apostles for the faith and are prepared properly. The reality is that many educators within the Catholic school system have also been "failed" throughout their Catholic school experiences.
   The transformation and renewal that needs to happen will progress as those imbued with the Gospel begin to share, shine, and send forth the light of Christ to those they encounter. The work of the faithful needs to remain one of love and not simply criticism. Let us continue to persevere in our desire to create disciples and surrender our work to the Lord's will and remain trusting. "Making disciples" is a collective effort, and not the sole responsibility of a school board, parish, priest, or educator. It is the responsibility of all those initiated into the Catholic faith to provide opportunities for one to encounter Christ. And, while the article says that the schools "should not stress the Mass but create other opportunities for students to meet Jesus and make a decision to follow Him."..  I feel that we must stress the truth about the Mass and the beautiful reality of Jesus present to us in the Blessed Sacrament;trusting that it is our Lord who intercedes above all, who has called us, and will intercede by inspiring the decision to follow Him and begin the journey of discipleship.(C.C.)   
  

    

Glorifying God. By: CC

We can only be something in the world for God when we become aware of what we are not. It is by our humility and humanness that God is enabled to shine through us.When we forget this simple truth we cease to be the light of Christ in the world and risk becoming rooted in selfishness.Our work though seemingly active will not be as effective as it can be unless it is entrusted fully to the will of God. 

   To seek good deeds and to will the betterment of our surroundings is a noble task, yet, when it is taken on with solely self-motive it will fall ever so short of reaching the goal for which we are striving.

Often even those tasks undertaken within our parish communities can be those entrenched with selfish desires. It is a constant work to examine our consciences and our hearts in everything that we commit to. Our goal in all things should be for the glory of God,to share the joy that He has provided to us and to extend ourselves beyond our comforts into the service of others. The proof of God`s will behind our endeavors will be in the `fruits`of our labor. Let us strive each day to draw nearer to our Lord and Lady. Entrusting all to them as we carry on in the joy and hope promised to us by our Lord. (CC) 

Obedience To God is True Freedom: By: C.C.

   

"As Saint peter knew, the paradox of the Gospel is that we are set free from the chains of our own making by choosing to yoke ourselves to Christ, who bursts our bonds by his own death and Resurrection" (Magnificat Magazine)

To be a Christian and to follow the path of Christ demands great sacrifice. This sacrifice varies depending on our state in life and also to the degree in which we surrender ourselves to God. This surrender which seems quite 'radical' to many is met by our Lord with immense grace, mercy, and love. It is because of His love for us that we are provided with the freedom to love him, to serve Him, and to continually strive toward Him amidst our difficulties and challenges. It is because of our Lord's mercy that we are able to experience a sense of His peace, joy, and love.

    Through faith and a strong will to live in accordance to God's design we are opened up to the invisible reality of Christ. This surrender that we are called to and reminded of many times by Jesus in the Gospel requires great obedience. The concept of obedience is often difficult to accept and seems to be one that many in our modern world reject. We can often fail to recognize that obedience to God is not imprisonment, but is a means by which we bind ourselves to the fullness of truth, love, and freedom found in our Lord alone. 

   So often one can settle for the tangible things of this world and claim to be 'liberated' and 'free' by doing as they please in the name of themselves and end up in the shackles of selfishness and disillusionment. Jesus calls us to obedience and sacrifice not for punishment, but for love. He offers to us an interior freedom and we must take the time to detach from external entrapment. We can only be truly free when we bind ourselves to the source of all freedom and fulfillment. We can only know this by giving ourselves completely through sacrifice and obedience. Blessed are they who hear the "hound of heaven" and answer by the laying down of their lives through sacrifice, service, and love. 

  May we begin each day with thanksgiving to God and think often of the end of our life,so that we may live each moment striving for purity of heart and draw nearer to our Lord in all things until we are truly Home.(CC)

   

   

  

      

Faith. By: C.C.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible." (Hebrews 11:1-3)

   Today's readings at Mass had me examine my own heart. I was led to truly think about the ways in which I conduct myself in matters of faith. Am I always assured? Do I live with a sense of conviction at all times? It is a constant work to continually devote ourselves to building a relationship with the Lord and trusting in His ways. It is not something fixed and stagnant,but rather it is constantly in flux as we react and act in accordance to the movements of the events in our lives. 

   It is important to acknowledge through our movements and experiences that God is unchanging, and that his love is presently near to us at all times. His presence, His realness, and His truth does not cease to be true because we waver in our faith. We are called by Him to a relationship; we are called to have faith in things unseen. 

  Through faith we come to a place of understanding that there is something exceeding the capacity and limitations of our human comprehension. If we attempt by intellect alone to seek the heights of God we will find ourselves falling ever so short of reaching this place. Faith demands a simplicity of heart and a total surrender. It demands for us to surrender even our intellect and allow God through faith to reveal His mystery to us. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" . In our moments of doubt and difficulty may we turn to the Lord and ask for Him to aid in our clarity. In these times let us say to the Lord "I believe;help my unbelief!" (Mark 9: 24) May we strive to live with this in our hearts so that we may experience on earth the peace and joy that is beyond all understanding until we are truly Home where our treasure is. (C.C.) 

"I believe though I do not comprehend, and I hold by faith what I cannot grasp with the mind." (St. Bernard)

Taking Up The Cross: A Reflection on Fr. Gerard`s Homily By:C.C.

"To take up the cross means that we are under the cross and not on top of it. It is bigger than we are that is why we cannot cast it aside but must be under it and bear it and live with it. This is where, we drop the ball. We see obstacles and not crosses. This is not totally untrue. There are things we can and should overcome. It does become untrue when we look at life as one obstacle course where we go from triumph to triumph. Our very language bears out this gospel of success. ‘I’ve got a handle on it’ or ‘I’ve got it under control’ or “I’m on top of it, don’t worry’ or ‘I think I have it beat’. If all we have are obstacles then we are in control and if we do not make it, it is because we have not tried hard enough or worked smart as they say. I wonder if we look closer we would not find the cross hidden away in such lives by compensations, denial or rationalizations or the other unconscious defense mechanisms

But the cross means that we do not have control. There is a point of suffering such that we cannot get our arms around it. We cannot understand it. If we could wrap our minds around it, it would cease to be the cross. That is why we are always under it. We have to bear it and take it up. Suffering is the point of failure in our lives. It can lead to despair or it could lead to life. We could push it away and pretend that we are in charge and finally end up in hopelessness when the lies and denials fail. Or we can welcome the stranger we cannot understand and take up the cross with the Lord and find life." (Abbot Fr. Gerard D'Souza- Abbey of the Genesee)

   In reflection of today's Gospel I was very pleased to come across this homily shared by Fr. Gerard from one of my favorite places to retreat (The Abbey of Genesee).These words about the cross resonated deeply with me today and I feel that they can speak to each one of us as we seek to identify, understand, and accept the cross within our own lives.

   There is something about the cross that leaves us uncomfortable. To feel the weight of something we do not have control over or quite understand leads us to feel vulnerable and out of control. We often forget the message and promise of our Lord that we hear today when we are faced with these circumstances. As Fr. Gerard points out we can be led to despair or we can be led to life.The choice in face of the cross is ours. It is here we make an act of will that consequently determines where we will be led. Jesus tells us in today's Gospel that "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."(Matthew16:24-25). As followers of Christ we are aware that to take up our cross daily is to persevere throughout our struggles and challenges being aware that our Lord helps us to carry our burden. We can potentially feel most conquered and most defeated when we try and remain in this place of being 'in charge' and 'on top of it' opposed to surrendering completely to our incapability and our great need for the help of our Lord to lead us toward life. 

Our Lord did not present us with the cross to burden us, to weigh us down, or to lead us toward despair and hopelessness. He took the cross so that we may have life and know it in the fullness of  eternity. Let us take up our cross daily with faith in our Lord to lead us to life. May we persevere in our journey remaining in the joy of our Lord by seeing even the most difficult of sufferings as a 'kiss from the cross'. Let us offer all things to Him in faith. If we seek to follow our Lord and grow in holiness we must strive to also embrace everything with faith, hope, and trust. Let us wake each new day with thanksgiving to our Lord and the knowledge that He is present with us in the face of our cross and our biggest struggle.(C.C.) 

Choosing The Better Part. By:C.C.

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." (Luke10:42)


  

    The Gospel reading for today is one that invites each of us to take a look at our own lives and into the anxieties and distractions that we often experience. Many of us can potentially insert our own names into this passage; identifying ourselves most with Martha as we too may overlook choosing the "better part".

    Being aware of the presence of God in our lives and working towards remaining attune to Him can enable us to accomplish our works with much greater ease. It can also help us to prioritize our tasks. Thursday's Gospel reading reminded us that we are invited to cast all of our burdens upon Jesus..."Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."(Matthew29:29-30) It is easy to become overwhelmed and distracted as Martha did by the pressures of life and yearning to please others. As responsibilities pile upon our shoulders we can feel as if we work alone; losing sight of our Lord and His providence by becoming consumed in the noise of activity and deaf to His words.

    Jesus calls us away from our tasks and burdens as He did with Martha by reminding her what the "better part" was. Though Martha's intent was pure and seeking to serve our Lord, there is something much more beautifully selfless in what is most pleasing to Him. It is not a matter of self-flattery by which Jesus declares Mary's choice to be the 'better part', but it is a statement made out love and desire to provide Martha with the sustaining peace, joy, and strength that His presence and counsel can bring to her. Jesus also affirms through this that it is far better to be in communion with one another, sharing time, and listening to each other, rather than perpetually busying ourselves with what we deem to be productive and necessary work. 

      I was moved in two directions while reading this Gospel. The first asserted the need to constantly practice the presence of our Lord and to cast my burdens upon Him so that I may fulfill all of my tasks in the way that He wills. Secondly, I am reminded of our call as Christians to receive others as if we are receiving Christ. The way that we treat our brothers and sisters so too do we treat our Lord. 

    Jesus reminds us today of our need to sit with Him and listen in order that we may grow in a relationship with Him and remain aware our need and His constant desire to be part of our lives. It is the "better part" to sit attentively before His feet so that we not only remember His majesty, but that we come to know His immense love for us. By being present at the feet of our Lord we can learn how to be most present to our tasks and also to those we encounter. Let us strive to always choose the "better part" by sitting attentively and listening to our Lord. (C.C.)